THIS CHAPTER UPDATED AS OF 12:43 PM 07/01/2012 Sorry guys, I realized I didn't want the end to be that emotional yet, so I altered it slightly. If you read this chapter before the aforementioned date/time, you get a new ending to read!

... I know how long its been. I'm sorry... I've been sick.. and.. yeah... so PLEASE DONT HATE ME! But this chapter is really long (new record for longest chapter)! And I'll try and update this weekend for you guys to make up for this:)

I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

Dare You To Move; Switchfoot.

LISTEN TO: Today they've been put in specific places in the chapter so you can stop-and-start them at the right time:)

ANNIE'S POV

Silence.

It's the one thing I've longed to hear for days now, and finally I'm left alone with only my own mind to disturb me. I'm bundled in layers upon layers of luxurious fur blankets, although I can't remember putting them over me or even getting into bed. Nonetheless here I am and there they are, the warmth of their protection almost becoming unbearable in their entirety. I can't remember Amphitrite past when he picked me up, and even when I strain to recall anything it returns fuzzy and shiny. Indecipherable.

I strain my head to look above me at the monotonous white ceiling. It hurts my neck, but I feel as if my body is immovable, so it's my only option. Everything hurts; it's not quite a sharp pain but a constant ache in every minute bone in my body. It's the worst kind of pain imaginable - I could handle intense, spastic pain. At least that leaves moments of rest. This kind of hurt leaves you drained and crying from frustration because all you want is for it to just stop and go away. But no matter how many times I beg, it stays to keep me company. What a lovely friend I have.

When the pain eventually subsides and becomes manageable, only lingering in my creaking joints, I lift my body out of the covers and swing my legs free. The cold air feels good against my moist legs, and I allow myself to gently stretch, curling my toes.

Slowly, daintily, I put one foot down. It's like testing the waters of the ocean; I have to go slowly so as to not shock myself. If only the cold marble was the sea - then perhaps I'd be feeling differently. I'd be happy. If seaweed was the only thing entangling me, and not the memory of the arms of a bare-chested green-eyed philanderer, maybe this would all be different.

But it's not, and I struggle to accept my current reality. I suppose standing would be a good start.

So with a dark smile I begin to shift my body off the bed and onto the floor.

When my left foot has proven it can support enough weight to keep me upright, my right foot follows and soon I'm standing, posture reminiscent of a newborn foal. Knees buckle for a second or two, my legs tremble. But within seconds I'm standing straight, legs firm on the ground. Once more I've gotten up after my world turned and dumped me on my back.

How many more times would I have to do this?

I trudge silently to the nearest mirror, grimacing slightly when my bruises protest - whether they're bruises from strong hands or sword training, I don't know. And I don't think I want to know. The training session seems so far away now, but it must have only been an hour or two ago, judging by the twilight night outside my window and the rumbling in my stomach.

When I arrive at the shining reflective surface, I almost expect my image to startle me. To show some physical transformation which, internally, feels so obvious. But instead, it's the same old Annie I've always seen. The boring, not-quite-good-enough Annie.

The green eyes are more dazed and confused than normal, but that could just be me - my eyes aren't focusing right anyway, so my vision is distorted. After several deep breaths it begins to return, and I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, staring solemnly at my now-clear reflection.

In two weeks time, this face would be broadcasted across the whole of Panem. What would they see? The scared, weak girl I know I am? Probably.

But... what would District 4 see? The people from back home... what would they see when they looked at my face?

They all knew me, of that I could be sure. I was just silly little Annie Cresta, the girl with a slightly crazy mother and incapacitated father. The girl who never stopped playing mermaid, the girl who made friends with the toothless fisherman at the docks when she went to sell her catches of the day. The girl who blushed and smiled at everything then cried at anything when no one was looking. The girl who walked the beach at sunset every night, the girl who swam in the middle of the night despite the temperatures of the air or ocean. Was that who they saw?

Probably not. They just saw a girl with a blank stare and small frame. The kind of tribute that died in the first few seconds of the bloodbath. Between me and Amphitrite, he would clearly be the District favourite - Besides my parents, Carp and Bombay I couldn't imagine who would want me to come home.

Tears threatened to spill over my cheeks, so I turned away from my reflection without another thought, heading immediately into the bathroom, avoiding the oversized mirror that stood directly in front of me.

I quickly pulled off my clothes and dashed into the shower, hoping to find refuge for my shivering, unprotected body. When my feet touched the pre-warmed tiles I sighed in a fleeting moment of happiness, wiggling my toes against their heat.

When I turned to the head of the shower, I was amazed by the complexity I found myself facing. There were dozens of buttons, each with a different word engraved into the shiny silver, and an electronic screen humming softly above them all.

After wrestling with the controls for a good few minutes, pressing several completely random buttons, I was hit with a geyser of warm multiple-scented water. The liquid trailed over my body like a blanket, warming me up immediately. I couldn't quite place all the smells, but there were strong notes of orange and an exaggerated rain-in-the-summer scent. I definitely liked it. So when the screen asked me if I wanted to save the combination, I pressed yes and continued to search the intricate control panel.

As the mechanical shower shampooed and conditioned my long hair, I found myself free to think. Guarding against any more thoughts of home, the day's dramatic events began to replay through my mind.

As soon as I pictured Finnick I knew it was a mistake. Tears immediately welled in my eyes, and I began to feel lightheaded. Flashes of his face, my words to him about my fate, and my struggle against his hold melded together in my mind to form a slideshow of pain. I accepted that I was going to die - but the thought was still utterly terrifying. I wanted to grow up, I wanted to fall in love. I wanted everything that a normal, mundane life would have given me but I would never, ever, be able to have it anymore.

Suddenly the water was terrifying - it was everywhere, choking me, pinching me, making me feel claustrophobic. I begged to escape, but the mixture of tears and water in my eyes stung so harshly I had to keep them closed, and my mind was spinning so intensely I couldn't think straight.

I stumbled on the wet ground, banging the side of my head into the tile. I cried out, but no one was there to help me. I forced my eyes open in an attempt to see, and shapes were blurry, but my vision was restoring. I began to choke on a sob, but I stifled the noise. It would do me no good to cry now. I felt blindly around the glass entrance for a towel, a handle, anything. When I found the handle I pushed so hard I was sure I would break the door - luckily some force stopped it before it shattered into pieces.

I found the shirt I had slept in overnight and brought it to my eyes, wiping away every drop of moisture. After a few minutes of deep breathing I coaxed myself back in the shower, allowing the alternative blasts of liquid and heat to finish up the job it started. When I exited, my hair was almost completely dry, falling in the waves it was used to. At least some things wouldn't change while I was here.

I wrapped a towel around my body, the shirt I had previously worn soaked from my first misadventure with the shower. The spot behind my right eye ached from the bash against the hard towel, and I rubbed in briefly in hopes it would lessen the pain.

As I re-entered the bedroom part of my quarters, fingers still massaging the bruise, a knock on my door startled me, and I nearly tripped over my own feet clumsily.

No amount of training is going to fix that, I thought bitterly.

When I ignored the knock and continued to my closet, the visitor knocked again softly, still hesitant.

"Annie?"

I froze. It was Finnick. Every bone in my body became still, and my mind wouldn't compute no matter how hard I pressed it to think. I wrapped the towel closer around my body, careful to move my feet silently as I shifted my weight, as if noise would scare away my visitor.

"Annie, it's Finnick." He paused, obviously hoping for some response from me. His voice was strained, hoarse and damaged. He sounded... hurt. Not physically hurt, but emotionally and mentally in pain.

My heart melted. I knew he hadn't meant to scare me with his intensity - it was just the shock of hearing his tribute was more or less thinking of herself as a sacrifice. But could I excuse him so easily?

"I understand if you don't want to talk to me, I really do." He paused again, evidently unsure of his words. "I just - I'm so, so sorry. I don't expect you to want to see me, but -"

Tiptoeing across the marble floor I twisted the lock and pulled the door open, peaking my head out the door to see Finnick facing the opposite wall, head in his hands. Shifting my body carefully so my towel-covered body wasn't exposed, I eyed him with a small smile as he turned in shock.

"What female wouldn't want to see you, Finnick?" I let the corners of my lips tug upwards, hoping to convey my acceptance of his presence with my lame, mocking joke. His mouth began to mirror my own before he stopped himself and turned away from me once more.

"No, Annie, what I did was wrong! So wrong! And I'm so sorry for hurting you, I really didn't mean to, I just -" In my current mood, the intensity of his speech almost seemed absurd and an incredulous laugh slipped through my lips.

"It's okay," I whispered with a chuckle, my eyes narrowing slightly as I attempted to decipher the strange man. "I forgive you. You were justifiably upset. Maybe next time just remember to put on a shirt before confronting me, you were quite frightening half-naked like a barbarian." I bit my lip, wondering why I was trying to comfort him into smiling when it was he who should've been begging for my forgiveness.

He stared at me, eyes holding confusion, before he broke out into a small smile. "Well, I'm sure it wasn't all bad." He winked, causing me to blush and shift behind the door. He smiled a few seconds longer before returning to his previous solemn state. "Did I hurt you? If I did, tell me and I'll -"

"No, Finnick, I'm fine!" I wasn't quite sure if it was a lie, I was bruised and battered, but I wasn't sure if that was from training or his vice-like grip. "I'm fine." I repeated, smiling as he searched my eyes to detect a lie.

He took a step forward, seemingly calm now that he knew I was okay. The closer he came, the faster my heart began to beat, and I clutched at my towel desperately. If it slipped, I would be naked in front of him...

"So, we missed dinner." He leaned against the doorframe, smiling softly.

"What?" My eyes popped open. "Seriously? What time is it? I thought we ate at seven -"

"We do. It's almost 10:30, Annie. How long did you think you'd been in there?" He eyed my quizzically.

"Um," I stuttered, searching for a plausible response. "I fell asleep. I don't know, I thought it was like six, six-thirty maybe." I looked back into my room and through the window. "But it's not dark enough to be 10:30," I protested.

"Another stupid Capitol quirk. As soon as the sun wears out, their lights turn on. I don't understand it either." He shook his head, green orbs filling with something like disgust as he shook his head. "But I was thinking -" He looked back up before cutting himself off.

"What?" I asked. He continued to stare at eyes, my face, and I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear reflexively. "Finnick, what are you-"

"Annie, what's that?" His voice was short and clipped, hand rising to gesture at the general area of my face.

"What's what? Do I have something on my face?" My fingers scanned my cheek, but they felt nothing unusual.

"That bruise," He responded, reaching his hand out to grasp my face. "Let me see it." His voice was steely and cold - he thought he was the cause of the bruise. Maybe in some ways he was... It was the thought of him that made me freak out in the shower. But it had been my own clumsiness that bashed me into the tile.

"No, stop." I jerked away from him, behind the door.

"Annie, just let me see it! Did I do that to you?"

"No! No no no, you've got it all wrong, I got that just a second ago -" Before I could finish my explanation he had burst through the door, and despite my small squeal and desperate clutch at the towel seperating me from nakedness, he didn't seem to notice my lack of clothing.

"It looks like it hurts, now just hold still!" He reached up for my face again, but I dodged it and attempted to walk past him.

"Finnick!"

"Annie!"

We stared at each other for a minute, lost in a stalemate. He opens his mouth, but before he can protest I beat him to the punch with an explanation.

"I hit my head in the shower. I swear, Finnick, it wasn't you." My neck is beginning to ache with the degree of the tilt I have to put my head at to look him in the eyes, but there's no way I'm backing down now.

His eyebrow hitches up and he stares at me for another couple seconds, shaking his head.

"If it had been you," I continue, remaining cautious of my wording. "I'd just say it. But it wasn't, I promise! I just bruise like a peach." I attempt a laugh, but despite his lack of recognition I'm still burning up that I'm standing in front of Finnick in my towel.

He remains silent, apparently deciding whether to believe me or not. When his head hangs, I can tell he's fallen into the submission of the truth.

"I'm sorry, Annalaese. I just... It's been a long day. I believe you. You're not exactly the lying kind," He chuckles, bringing his fallen face back to mine with a suave smile.

I laugh and stare at my feet. "I would give you a hug, but ah..." I trail off, cheeks burning red hot as I tug at my towel.

"Ms. Cresta, please don't remind me that the only thing separating me from your lovely little form is a small white towel. I'm having enough trouble breathing already," When I laugh he brings his mouth to my ear and I can feel hot breath on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. My neck is suddenly flashing hot and cold and tingling so intensely I begin to feel a loss of blood in my head.

"You think I'm funny, Cresta? Because I can think of a few wonderful activities that don't even require me to keep my breath. Can't you?"

The current passing between us is something so foreign and elating I can't seem to put a finger on it. His closeness has sent me into spirals, and it's all I can do to keep my breath steady.

While I lack the experience Finnick has, I'm no stranger to boys and I know once I back up and take a few deep breaths his hold on me will disintegrate. Once I follow my mind's advice I find him cocking his head, staring at me with the same smirk that sends thousands of girls to their knees. He may have dropped most of his Capitol accent and behaviour around me, but he still clung to certain others. I still don't like it. He's charming as heck, but I don't need any of this playboy act.

"Well yes I can, Odair. And it's been too long since I've enjoyed it, I miss it so very much."

He smiles and begins to pace towards me, slow and sure of himself. He thinks he has me hook, line and sinker. His ego makes me bite my lip to refrain from a giggle.

"And whatever could this activity be?" He whispers, hands creaking closer to my waist.

I begin to lift myself teasingly slow on my toes, bringing my mouth to his ear. Once I arrive, I steady myself against his shoulders and whisper one word into his waiting ear:

"Swimming."

I laugh uproariously as I back away from him, tapping his cheek twice in consolation. He's gaping is so open, raw and completely confused that I send myself in another round of giggles before grabbing one of Leif's preset day outfits out of the closet and running to the bathroom to change. Even while pulling on the strapless black lace bodice and short pink A-line skirt my heart remains at the furious pace it was in while whispering in Finnick's ear, and my own laughter is buzzing in my ears.

My adrenaline on high, I quickly part my hair in equal sections and let it fall over my shoulders, the way my mom always told me looked so pretty. I tear open the door to find Finnick still looking dazed, so when my laugh rings throughout the room he has almost no time to respond when I grab his hand and begin to pull him out the door.

"C'mon," I insist, not looking back as I practically fly over the carpet. "I'm starving, which means you are too. The kitchens got to have something we can eat."

My hold is only on his wrist, but nonetheless I can feel its heat and it brings an even stronger blush to my cheeks. It almost feels... good.

FINNICK'S POV

LISTEN TO: LIFE AFTER YOU BY DAUGHTRY

The kitchen is deserted by the time Annie and I have found our way into the complex silver-and-black room, and immediately upon entry she drops my wrist and begins a mad search for food. I massage the wrist, which tingles intensely. Suddenly it seems very cold without her touch. Shrugging, I rub it lightly as I lean against the counter as I watch the petite girl hunt desperately through drawers and cupboards for nourishment.

Her face, eyebrows drawn in concentration, lips parted slightly, elicits a small chuckle from my own, but I stifle it before she can find the source of the noise. Studying the strange girl requires her unwitting participation in not recognizing my scanning eyes.

I had been so close to her. Thisclose. And then she'd turned on her toes, laughter both mocking and consoling me at once. Just recalling the moment made me chuckle and shake my head. I should have known better. Annie wouldn't be caught easy, I should have recognized that.

But I'm not trying to catch her! I reminded myself. This is just another girl and another game. One to make distract her from the more important Game coming up.

"Y'know, I remember you being pretty efficient in hunting in your Games, now did you lose that skill or are you going to help me out?" She asked, mouth in a wide grin, head tilted slightly as she admonished me. Normally this comment could be considered flirtation, but coming from Annie's innocent eyes and sweet grin, it seems anything but.

"This isn't exactly a stream, sweetheart." I respond, shaking my head and pushing myself off the wall, a smile playing on my lips. "But I suppose I could grace you with my help."

She laughs loudly, and it reverberates off the metal walls, resonating pleasantly in my ears. I suppose she's got an nice laugh.

"Thanks, you're a real gentleman." She smiles and sticks her head in the fridge, her long red-tinted locks disappearing in the cold silver apparatus.

I continue to rummage through the dusty cupboards, bypassing cans of anchovies and tomato sauce in hopes of something more favourable. It's only when I hear Annie grunt in discomfort that I look up to see a dancing pair of sea green eyes and a wonderful grin.

Leaving her face, I bring my sight down to the object she has in her hands. Well, in her arms. It's a bucket absolutely overflowing... with peaches. -Deliciously soft fuzzed light orange and pale red spheres that I can smell from here.

She shifts the heavy basket in her arms and picks one up from the pile, struggling with the weight before I stand up and easily take it from her hands. She gives me a look of surprise, and I only return it with a smirk. The girl had fight, but her arms weren't built for heavy lifting like this.

Pressing her thumb into one of the soft fruits, she releases it quickly and I watch as the skin turns a light purple.

"See," She smiles. "Me and these guys are just a couple of tunas in a school." (A/N I was just trying to use an analogy D4 people would use... it made sense in my head, even if we wouldn't use it in real life! It was a lame form of 'peas in a pod')

"You're both permanently blushing, so you've got that similarity too." Her laughter and my grin coincide as we exit the kitchen and dining room, neither of us quite knowing where we're going. Twisting and turning through the hallways, each one outdoing in the other in laughter, we eventually end up on the terrace of her room, blankets folded around her slim unprotected legs, a sweater haphazardly thrown over her shoulders. We let our legs hang through the small space between the floor and railings, our bare feet twirling in the night air.

Peach juice drips down my cheek, and I'm fighting it so ridiculously with my tongue soon Annie is clutching her sides, holding a hand over her mouth in an attempt to keep her own dinner in.

"You ever do this with your boyfriend?" I ask casually, picking at the stem of my newest peach as I recall the image of the dark-haired guy who'd shoved his finger in my chest at the train station.

"What?" She asks through a mouthful of peach, swallowing hard before continuing. "I don't have a boyfriend," She laughs.

"The guy from the train-station? Shorter than me, dark slicked-back hair?" I probe, genuinely interested in the topic.

"Carp?" She asks incredulously.

"That's the guy!" I snap my fingers, remembering when her other friend had called his name.

"He's not my boyfriend!" She laughs louder, nearly choking on a mouthful of the sweet fruit. "No, you've got it all wrong!"

"Well he seemed pretty protective of you," I mentioned, chuckling as I bite into my handful.

"Carp is gay," She answers, sitting up to gauge my reaction. We're both silent for a second before enveloping into laughter all over again.

We continue to eat in laughter and smiles until we've finished half the barrel, both of us clutching our stomachs in a hazy form of regret and bliss.

"I don't think I'll ever eat a peach again," I moan, eyes closed to my surroundings, rubbing my protesting stomach. "I must've eaten over a dozen."

"Oh, I'll make sure you do!" She laughs, and I can hear her bring her hands from her sides to prop her head up. "Cause I most certainly will."

"Which means I have to?" I argue, chortling at her logic. I wait for a response, but several seconds pass with nothing before I open my eyes to see if Annie is still by my side.

(STOP. LISTEN TO: I'M WITH YOU AVRIL LAVIGNE ACOUSTIC (COVER) BY NYLON TAPESTRY - this can be found on YouTube. PLAY ON REPEAT.)

She is. She's bundled up in layers of blankets, and all I can see of her remaining body is her neck and face, but nonetheless she's still there. But she chooses to stay silent, and I don't know why, but I know not to disturb her.

A minute goes by, a minute and a half. The silence begins to make me uncomfortable, and I shift to get a better look at her. As I'm about to speak, she beats me to it.

"The stars," She whispers. "They're out." She turns to me, her eyes so full of joy it makes my heart ache. The stars are never visible from the Capitol.

Confused, I turn my eyes upwards and search the dark sky. Sure enough, she's right. They're hidden and dull compared to the dazzling ones we see in D4, but Annie's right, they've managed to shine through the Capitol's smog and lights tonight.

"Yeah," I whisper back. "They are." I return my gaze to her, but she's already lifted her orbs to the bright beings.

We're silent for another few minutes, and she sighs contently. I'm almost afraid to speak to her in this state; afraid to disturb her inner peace. She must have such a wonderful mind, Annie. She's always wrapped up in it. I can't stand my mind... but her's must be nice.

"Aren't they beautiful?" She sighs, not letting her lids interrupt her vision once as she stares at the heavenly bodies.

I'm quiet for a second, unsure of if I should answer. She turns to me, innocent eyes - so very innocent - looking at my expectantly. The moonlight hits her face and it strikes me how dazzling her green eyes are in this twilight. The moon agrees with her.

"I love stars because they're always there," I respond softly. It shocks me that I'm telling this to her, but her presence, the moonlight, is so calming I can't stop the words from spilling out. "Unlike people, who you have to leave behind. Unlike the sea, that I have to leave behind in Four. The stars are always around, even if they're hiding, they come out eventually."

I don't know how I expect Annie to react to this, but when her response is silence I realize it's the best possible answer I could receive. It's no longer an awkward or strained quiet, it's simply her accepting my thoughts and getting lost in her own. And somehow I know this.

I'd become so wrapped up in the carnal world of constant communication that I've forgotten how nice it was to just not talk and be comfortable with it.

How long we lay there I don't know, but between the sweet, sticky scent of the peaches, the blinking stars and Annie's steady breath, I couldn't help but feel this was the best I'd felt in a long time. My mind was at times both completely blank and overflowing full, but either way, I didn't mind. Everything just felt right.

"I think," Her voice drifted into my mind, as soft and delicious as the peaches. "I think if everyone sat and looked at the stars every night the world would be an entirely different place."

I nodded, realizing the truth in her statement. I was returning to my previous haze, thinking about Annie's theory, when the wail of a siren pierced the previously calm night air and dragged me a step away from the zen space I was so beguiled with.

The Games. Annie. Tribute. Sacrifice.

"You're not her," I breathed, heart beginning to pound at the mention of the subject.

She sighs, and I can hear her bringing herself back a notch from the peaceful place. "So I'm Penthesilea then, am I?"

"Yes," I respond. "I guess. I don't know," I exhale exasperatedly.

"Maybe you didn't do your research well enough," She chuckles darkly. "They both die anyway."

"Well that's fine, because you're neither of them. You're Annie. Not Penthesilia or Iphigenia or anyone else. And your fate isn't written yet." The calmness of my own voice surprises me.

"Finnick," Her voice breaks slightly, just enough that I can hear the pain in her voice. "There's twenty-four of us in there and only one comes out. I know my odds. I'm just trying to prepare for it. Don't give me false hope, please. Just let me deal with this how I can." Her words are so jarring and heart-wrenching I can feel my insides twist. The way she stressed please, as if I could hurt her with my support, left me wringing my blanket, eyes shut tightly.

I look over to her face, which would be blank except for the tear running down her cheek. Slowly, my hand finds hers beneath the blankets. I don't lace my fingers through hers, or grip it tightly, but I place it just over hers so she knows I'm here.

There's no sharp intake of breath, no gasp, but there may as well have been. The thing buzzing between us is so palpable I'm sure even she can't deny it. I don't know if we're in some state of limbo that allows for a false reality or an escape from the real world - I don't know if tomorrow we'll wake up and this night won't count. But I want it to. And suddenly, more than anything, I know I want her out of that Arena alive.

"You're going to get out of there," I feel her shiver, despite the layers of blankets over her lithe form. "I know you are. And I know I'm not supposed to be choosing you over Amphitrite, but I am. But if you want to come out alive, you have to want it. You hear me? No more talks of being a sacrificial lamb - that won't get you back home."

She remains silent, not bothering to wipe the tears from her face, simply letting them fall onto the ground below us.

"I want to come back," She finally answers. "I just don't know if I have anything left to live for."

My hand squeezes hers slightly. "I don't think I believe that."

We turn our gazes to each other and I stare into her green eyes as the moonlight dances through them, leaving a sparkle in them and casting light across her face. In the moon's light her skin looks as perfect and flawless as porcelain.

She just needs a friend. That's all she needs. Be that for her. I echo to myself, unfamiliar with being this close to a woman when I'm not being payed to do so. It's foreign, and a little uncomfortable, but mostly it feels normal and even a little soothing.

She smiles softly and the tears seem to temporarily cease. We watch the stars for another few minutes before silently packing up and dispersing, small smiles our only goodbyes. I return to my room, both confused and elated at once. I peel off my outer layers of clothes and sink onto the bed, mind racing with thoughts of the night.

So I sit, still inhaling the scent of peaches, and wondering how time has suddenly begun to stand still.

SO DID YOU LIKE IT? SUPER EMOTIONAL AND INTENSE ANNIE AND FINNICK! Big break through! I'm trying not to make them go too fast, so right now Finnick's hand-holding and comforting is more in an attempt to become her friend rather than lover. He feels the sparks but is pushing them away, choosing to be what she needs. Which is a friend! At least for right now;) You'll notice how quickly Annie's emotions change, but Finnick doesn't mind, or even seem to notice!

ANNIE'S OUTFIT: h t t p : / / f o t o s . f o t o f l e x e r . c o m / 8 9 6 0 a 0 6 8 5 1 d 9 b 8 d 4 6 5 6 c f b 1 9 4 c 2 1 1 f 8 9 . j p g (the skirt, in my version, is a bit longer, ending more mid/lower-thigh than upper-thigh.

Okay, so the next update should be more related to Annie's training day/alliances/instructions for the dance (which won't be coming for a few more chapters, sorry!). I've got a few milestones for them to go through first, so while I update on training scores/alliances and such there will be romantic events, don't you worry:)

Again, I'm SO sorry for the delay, I hope the length of this chapter made up for it!